Brgy chiefs urged to demand aid release

Demand for the release of your share of the P400 million aid to the barangays.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City south district) yesterday gave this advice to 60 barangay captains, who have yet to receive their share of P3 million aid from the city government.

Most of these barangay chiefs are affiliated with the Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, the former party of Mayor Michael Rama.

In a press conference, Osmeña challenged the mayor to release the funds regardless of party affiliations.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, council’s budget committee chairperson, also accused Rama of holding hostage the share of BO-PK allied barangays to compel them to commit to Rama’s reelection.

Councilor Osmeña said these barangay officials complained to the council that Rama was making the release of the funds difficult.

“They have been told that if you are not with me, don’t bother to come because you will just be insulted,” she said.

Mayor Rama denied the accusation. He signed a memorandum of agreement with 20 barangay officials on Saturday for the release of barangay aid.

He said the aid for other barangays would be released if they comply with requirements.

The City Council approved P400 million as aid to barangays in the annual budget and wanted the amount released to all of the city’s 80 barangays at the same time.

Each barangay will receive at least P3 million totaling P240 million for all. The remaining P160 million would be shared pro rate among barangays based on the number of their registered voters.

Mayor Rama said that if he would have his way, he would use a mechanism for the release of the aid with his allies or those barangay officials he trusted. /Correspondent Edison A. delos Angeles